Power seat switch apparatus for vehicle

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improvement of a power seat switch apparatus for a vehicle.

Generally, as shown in

FIG. 8

, a seat

1

for a vehicle is placed on a base

1

a

, and is constructed by a bottom

2

and back portion

3

. A power seat switch apparatus

4

for changing the form of the seat

1

according to user's preference is attached to the side of the base

1

a

. The power seat switching apparatus

4

includes a seat horizontal-movement switching portion

5

, a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

6

, a bottom-rear vertical-movement switch portion

7

and an angle adjustment switching portion

8

. Incidentally, although not shown, a power section comprising a motor and a working portion is provided for moving the bottom

2

and the back portion

3

in each direction and adjusting their angle so as to correspond to the switching portions

5

to

8

, individually.

The seat horizontal-movement switching portion

5

, the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

6

and the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion

6

are operated by a knob

9

. Specifically, the knob

9

is movably operated in a horizontal direction (direction of arrow A); its front is movably operated in a vertical direction (direction of arrow B) around the rear end; and its rear is movably operated in a vertical direction (direction of arrow C).

When the knob

9

is operated in the direction of arrow A, an operated member (not shown) for the seat horizontal-movement is operated in the direction of arrow A to make a switching operation. Thus, the power section (not shown) is driven so that the seat

1

is moved in the direction of arrow A. When the knob

9

is operated in the direction of arrow B, the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

6

is switched so that the front of the bottom

2

is moved vertically by the power section. Further, when the knob

9

is operated in the direction of arrow C, the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section

7

is switched so that the rear of the bottom

2

is moved vertically by the power section.

Another knob

10

is provided so as to correspond to the angle adjustment switching portion

8

. The knob

10

is adapted so that the top is movable in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow D) around the bottom. When the knob

10

is moved in the horizontal direction, the angle adjustment switching section

8

is switched so that the angle of the back portion

3

(reclining angle) is adjusted by the power section.

Meanwhile, in the structure described above, since both front and rear of the knob

9

can be movably operated in the vertical direction, while the front of the knob

9

is operated in the direction of arrow B, the rear may be also operated in the direction of arrow C. Otherwise, the center of the knob

9

can be operated in the vertical direction. In this case, the bottom-front vertical movement switching section

6

and the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section

6

may be placed in the switched on state at the same timing. Thus, the two power sections will be driven in a manner superposed in time, which increases a working current.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been accomplished under the above circumstance. An object of this invention is to provide a power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle in which a plurality of power switching sections are not placed in the switched state at the same timing.

In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.

(1) A power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a seat horizontal-movement switching portion including a first operated member to be operated in a horizontal direction for moving a seat in the horizontal direction;

a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion including a second operated member to be operated in a vertical direction for adjusting a bottom-front portion of the seat in the vertical direction;

a bottom-rear vertical movement switching portion including a third operated member to be operated in the vertical direction for adjusting a bottom-rear portion of the seat in the vertical direction;

an angle adjustment switching portion including a fourth operated member to be operated in the horizontal direction for adjusting an angle of a back portion of the seat;

a first knob capable of making a horizontal operation and a vertical operation to operate the seat horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion; and

a second knob capable of making the horizontal operation and the vertical operation to operate the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion and the angle adjustment switching portion.

(2) The power seat switch apparatus according to (1) further comprising an operating member for connecting the first knob to the seat-horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion.

(3) The power seat switch apparatus according to (2), wherein the operating member includes a knob coupling shaft fitted to the first knob, a first operating protrusion fitted to the second operated member so as to move the second operated member in the vertical direction, and a second operating protrusion fitted to the second operated member so as to move the first operated member in the horizontal direction.

(4) The power seat switch apparatus according to (3), wherein

the operating member, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion are accommodated in a base of the seat,

the knob coupling shaft is protruded from a cross-shaped through-hole formed in the base to the outside of the base so as to be fitted in the first knob, and

a supporting shaft protruded from the base is inserted in a sliding-contact hole of the first knob so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.

In the configuration described above, the first knob operates the seat horizontal movement switching section, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation, and the bottom-front vertical movement switching section, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation. Namely, the first knob does not operate the plural switching sections in the same direction. For this reason, the operation of the first knob will not cause these switching sections to make the switching operation at the same timing. Further, the second knob also operates the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation, and the angle adjustment switching section, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation. For this reason, both switching sections will not make the switching operation at the same timing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a side view of a seat portion which shows an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2

is a side view of a substantially entire switching device which is illustrated with knobs taken away.

FIG. 3

is a sectional view taken along arrow P in FIG.

4

.

FIG. 4

is a sectional view taken along arrow Q in FIG.

2

.

FIGS. 5A

to

5

C are views showing different contact states of a switching section

16

, respectively.

FIG. 6

is an exploded perspective view of a first knob

20

, an operator

26

, etc.

FIG. 7

is a sectional view along arrow R in FIG.

2

.

FIG. 8

is a view of a prior art corresponding to FIG.

1

.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now referring to

FIGS. 1

to

7

, an explanation will be given of an embodiment of this invention. As shown in

FIG. 1

, a seat

11

is placed on a base

11

a

, and is constructed by a bottom

12

and a back portion

13

. A power seat switch apparatus

4

for changing the form of the seat

1

, such as the horizontal position, slope, height of the bottom

12

and angle of the back portion, according to user's preference is attached to the side of the base

1

a.

As shown in

FIGS. 2

to

4

, the power seat switch apparatus

14

is provided with an apparatus case

15

. A seat horizontal-movement switching portion

16

, a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

17

, a bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion

18

and an angle adjustment switching portion

19

are provided to the apparatus case

15

. Although described later, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion

16

and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

17

are operated by a first knob

20

, and the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion

18

and the angle adjustment switching portion

19

are operated by a second knob

21

. The configuration including the switching portions

16

,

17

and first knob

20

will be described below.

First, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion

16

will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 3 and 4

. The switching portion

16

includes a first operated member

22

, movable contacts

23

,

23

′, and a plurality of fixed contacts

24

a

,

24

b

,

24

c

,

24

a′

,

24

b′

,

24

c′

. The first operated member

22

is guided by a guiding wall

15

a

of the apparatus case

15

so that it is movable in the directions of arrows AL and AR in FIG.

3

. On the upper surface of the first operated member

22

, an engagement groove

22

a

is formed which extends in a direction (arrows BU, BD) perpendicular to the direction of arrows AL, AR (shown in also FIG.

6

). In the lower surface of the operand

22

, a pushing piece

22

b

having two protrusions

22

c

(only one is shown) is fit together with a spring. The contacts

23

,

24

a

,

24

b

and

24

c

constitute a single switch. On the side opposite to the switch, another single switch is symmetrically provided which is composed of the contact

23

′,

24

a′

,

24

b′

and

24

c′

. Therefore, the switching portion

16

is constructed by two single switches.

In the switching section

16

, when the first operated member

22

is at the neutral position (state of

FIGS. 4 and 5A

, shaded portion represents a conducting portion), the contacts

24

a

,

23

and

24

b

are in the conducting state and the contacts

24

a′

,

23

′ and

24

c′

are also in the conducting state. At this time, the power section is a cut-off state. When the first operated member

22

is moved in the direction of arrow AL, the contacts

24

a

,

23

and

24

b

stay in the conducting state, and the other contact

24

a′

,

23

′ and

24

b′

are switched into the conducting state (FIG.

5

B). At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in one direction.

When the operand

22

is moved in the direction of arrow AR, while the

24

a′

,

23

′ and

24

c′

stay in the conducting state, the other contacts

24

a

,

23

,

24

c

are switched into the conducting state (FIG.

5

C). At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in an opposite direction.

Next, the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

17

will be explained. This switch

17

basically has the same configuration as the switching section

16

, and has a second operated member

25

, movable contacts

26

,

26

′ and six fixed contacts (two contacts

27

b

,

27

b′

corresponding to the contacts

24

b

,

24

b′

are shown in FIG.

4

). The second operated member

25

is guided by guiding walls

15

b

,

15

b

so that it is arranged movably in the direction of arrows BU and BD in FIG.

4

. On the upper surface of the second operated member

25

, an engagement groove

25

a

is formed which extends in a direction (arrows AL, AR) perpendicular to the direction of arrows BU, BD. In the lower surface of the second operated member

25

, a pushing piece

25

b

similar to the pushing piece

22

b

is fit together with a spring.

In the switching portion

17

, when the second operated member

25

is moved in the direction of arrow BU from the neutral position (see FIG.

1

), the respective contacts operate in the same manner as in the switching portion

16

. At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in one direction. When the second operated member

25

is moved in the direction of arrow BD, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in an opposite direction.

On the upper plate

15

c

of the device case

15

, an operating protrusion arranging hole

15

is formed along arrows AL and AR so as to the first operand

22

of the switching section

16

. A cross-shaped operating protrusion arranging hole

15

e

is also formed so as to correspond to the second operand

25

of the switching section

17

.

On the upper plate

15

c

of the apparatus case

15

, an operating member

26

for operating the first and second operated members of the respective switches

16

and

17

are arranged. On the one surface of the operating member

26

(lower face of FIG.

2

), operating protrusions

26

a

and

26

b

are formed. The one operating protrusion

26

a

is fit in the engagement groove

22

a

of the first operated member

22

through the above operating protrusion arranging hole

15

d

. The other operating protrusion

26

b

is fit in the engagement groove

25

a

of the second operated member

25

through the operating protrusion arranging hole

15

e

. A knob coupling shaft

26

c

is protruded from the other surface of the operating member

26

(upper face of FIGS.

2

and

4

). The knob coupling shaft

26

c

is protruded from a cross-shaped through-hole

11

b

formed in the base

11

a

to the outside of the base

11

a

. A supporting shaft

11

c

is protruded from the outer surface of the base

11

a.

The first knob

20

has a generally slightly rectangular shape. On the rear face thereof, a fitting hole

20

a

and a rectangular sliding-contact hole

20

b

are formed. The knob coupling shaft

26

c

is fit in the fitting hole

20

a

in a pressed state. The supporting shaft

11

c

is movably inserted in the sliding-contact hole

20

b.

Thus, when the first knob

20

is operated in the direction of arrow AL, the switching portion

16

makes a contact operation in one form as described above so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the seat

11

in the direction of arrow AL. Inversely, when the first knob

20

is operated in the direction of arrow AR, the switching portion

16

makes a contact operation in the other form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the opposite direction to move the seat

11

in the direction of arrow AR.

Further, when the first knob

20

is moved in the direction of arrow BU, the switching portion

17

makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the front of the seat

12

in the direction of arrow BU. Inversely, when the first knob

20

is moved in the direction of arrow BD, the switching portion

17

makes the contact operation in the other form so that the motor of the power section is rotationally driven in the other direction to move the front of the seat

12

in the direction of arrow BD.

On the other hand, the configuration including switches

18

,

19

and second knob

21

is shown in FIG.

7

. This configuration is basically the same as that including the switching portions

16

,

17

and first knob

20

. The switching portion

18

includes a third operated member

28

and a plurality of contacts similar to those in the switching portion

16

. The switching portion

19

includes a fourth operated member

29

and a plurality of contacts similar to those in the switching portion

17

.

In the configuration described above, when the second knob

21

is moved in the direction of arrow CU, the switching portion

18

makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the back portion

13

of the seat

12

in the direction of arrow CU. Inversely, when the second knob

21

is moved in the direction of arrow CD, the rear of the seat

12

is moved in the direction of arrow CD (opposite to the direction of arrow CU). Further, when the second knob

21

is moved in the direction of arrow DL, the switching portion

19

makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the back portion

13

in the direction of arrow DL. Inversely, when the second knob

21

is moved in the direction of arrow DR, the back portion

13

is moved in the direction of arrow DR.

In this way, in accordance with this embodiment, the first knob

20

operates the seat horizontal-movement switching portion

16

, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation, and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion

17

, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation. Namely, the first knob

20

does not operate the plurality of switching portions (e.g. switching portions

17

and

18

) in the same direction. Therefore, the operation of the first knob

20

will not cause the switching sections

16

and

17

to make the switching operation at the same timing. Further, the second knob

21

operates the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion

18

, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation, and the angle adjustment switching portion

19

, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation. Therefore, both switching portions

18

and

19

will not make the switching operation at the same timing. In addition, the switching portion

16

and the switching portion

18

or

19

will not make the switching operation at the same timing, and the switching section

17

and the switching section

18

or

19

will not make the switching operation at the same timing.

As understood from the explanation hitherto made, this invention can provide a power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle in which a plurality of switching section are not fallen in the switching-operated state at the same timing.